Albert angell



AiAN GELL. cnogww APPARATUS. No. 172,685; Patented Jan.25,1876.

UN TE STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ALBERT ANGELL, -OF ORANGE JUNCTION, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CROQUET APPARATUS.

. Specification forming partofLettersP-atent No. 172,685, dated January 25, 1876; application filed August 28, 18 5.

Figure 1 is a front view of the arches. Fig.

. 2 is a plan view of the several parts when put up. Fig. 3 shows a modification of the arches. Fig. 4. is a detail view of the stakes.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the game of croquet; and consists in combining a series of stakes prox ided with a series of sockets adapted to receive in them the staffs of a series of flags, whereby a convenient and conspicuous place is obtained for the flags, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the' drawing, the letter A designates the arches pertaining to my game of croquet. B are flags, and G G the stakes. The flags B correspond in number tothe number of the arches, and, when the latter are stuck in the 7 ground, are placed contiguous thereto, to which end the arches are provided with loops 1), for receiving the flags, the loops being formed by twisting the wire composing the arches in a proper manner, and being located at any suitable part of the arches.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the loops b formed on the side of the arches, while Fig. 3 shows them placed on the top part thereof. The arches may also be made with one end to enter the ground, and the other bent so as to form an elbow with a loop, which rests on the surface for receiving the end of another arch, thus forming a row of arches linked together. This feature is shown in Fig. 3, where the loop I),

.moreover, is made on the top of the arches,

for receiving the flags. It must be remarked, however, that the arches may be made plain, without the loops or elbow, when the flagstafis are put into the ground.

When the loops b are made on the side of the arches A the flag-staffs 6 may be stuck through the loops into the ground, and in this case the flagfstafts are preferably made in two parts, as represented in Fig. 1, the lower one of which is allowed to remain in the ground when'the flags are removed.

The flags B have different colors, and may represent flags of different nations, or they may have different characters printed on them, in order that they may be readily distinguished from each other.

The stakes O are'two in number, and are divided into sectionsb which may be equal in number to the sum of the flags B and arches A,the sections bearin g different colors or ch aracters, corresponding to the colors or characters of the flags. tions b the stakes are provided with sockets d, which are adapted to receive in them the flag staffs c, the stakes being stepped, as shown, and the sockets being formed obliquely, in order that when the flag-staffs are inserted therein they clear the next upper step.

The manner of putting up the implements pertaining to my game is substantially represented in Fig. 2 of the drawing, where the stakes 0 form the starting-points of the two players, or parties of players, and hree arches, A A A are placed in the plane of a line drawn from one of the stakes to the other, the

arches being equidistant from each other and from the stakes. The arches A A A may have the form of ordinary croquet-arches; but the central arch A in this example has a loop, I), in order that it may contain aflag. On op posite sides of the arch A are situated the arches A, which are arranged side by side and in a line with each other, their number depending on the number of the players to either party when the players are divided into parties or sides, as next explained.

The game is played on a lawn or any smooth piece of ground with mallets and balls. The players are divided 0E into sides or parties opposite each other, accommodation being made in this example for three persons to either party. The stakes O O' are common to the respective parties. Each individual player has a flag, arch A, and a section of the stake belonging to his party, of the same color or character, which remain his throughout the game. The primary object of each player is to secure his own flag, then to capture the flags of the opposite party. The course of each player is to start from his stake and play through thecentral arches A A A in order to strike the opposite stake thence return- At the point of the secing through the arch nearest the stake last struck, and on through the one of the side arches A bearing his flag, atthe same time taking out the flag, and, after playing through the arch nearest his stake, and striking the latter, affixing the flag to his section of the stake corresponding with the color of his flag. His play is then over, and he waits until all the other players have started, whereupon he plays down through the same course as before, but, instead of returning through his -own arch, playing through any of the arches If either party saves all their own flags it will be a draw galne, and in that case neither side takes the prize, which will remain in its place.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. The stakes O 0, divided into sections I), and provided with sockets d for the reception of the stafl's of the flags B, substantially as described. y I

2. The combination of the arches A, provided with loops b, for the insertion of the flag-staffs c, with the stakes G, socketed for the reception of the flag-staffs e, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of August, 1875.

ALBERT ANGELL. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

J VAN SANTVOORD, ROBT. E. MILLER. 

